Irbid Governorate · Jordan
Irbid travel guide
Irbid is a city in Irbid Governorate, Jordan, home to about 1,912,000 people.
- Best months
- March, April and November
- Nearest airport
- ADJ66 km · Marka International (Amman Civil) Airport
- Currency
- JODJordanian dinar
- Time zone
- Asia/Amman
- Language
- Arabic
About
About Irbid
Irbid (Arabic: إِربِد) is a city located on the northern ridge of the Gilead mountains in northern Jordan in the Irbid Governorate. The city lies approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) south of the Syrian border, and is the largest city of the Irbid Governorate and the third most populous city of Jordan.
The main industrial and administrative centre in the north of the kingdom, Irbid is home to the Yarmouk University, the Jordan University of Science and Technology and a good range of services, making it a staging point for exploration further afield to Umm Qais (Gadara), Pella and other nearby sites within the region.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Irbid
See
There is not much to see in the town of Irbid, but from there you can go on and visit several ancient sites around the city.
- Irbid Citadel
- St. George Latin Church
- Clock Tower
- Museum of Jordanian Heritage
- Natural History Museum
- Irbid Archaeological Museum
Do
The town's landmark thoroughfare is University Street, with restaurants, shops, and boutiques. The street is also known for its myriad of internet cafes, for which reason Irbid boasts an appropriate entry in the Guinness Book of World Records. Most cafes and coffee shops serve shisha (hookah), for 1.50 JD. There are many schools and colleges in the Irbid area, including Al-Yarmouk University and Jordan University of Science and Technology. Students are mainly of Arabic background; there are also many American and Malaysian students.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Irbid
2 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Beit Al Baraka | 19.1 km | |
| Murshed Motel | 20.8 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Irbid
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Irbid are March, April and November. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 35 °C; January is the wettest, with about 106 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Irbid: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Marka International (Amman Civil) Airport (ADJ), about 66 km from the city centre in a straight line; Uri Michaeli Haifa International Airport (HFA, 81 km) and Queen Alia International Airport (AMM, 94 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
In Irbid, almost all means of road transportation arrive at Amman Jadeed Transport Terminal. Once there, you can hire a cab or local bus to anywhere in Irbid. The JETT Transit Station is just south from here. To get to Irbid you have to start out from (Tabarbour) Transport Terminal in Amman. Buses to Irbid cost from 1 JD. From the same terminal, the more comfortable coaches run by Hijazi Buses Co. cost 2.10 JD and are more direct as they do not stop between Amman and Irbid. Ordinary cabs, recognized by their yellow or beige colour, are more expensive.
Getting around
You can get anywhere in Irbid by taking one of the many yellow or beige coloured taxi cabs. Unlike in Amman, in Irbid it is rare for a taxi to use the meter, even if you insist. Taxi rides in Irbid will typically be a set cost in increments of 0.5 JD, and you should negotiate the price before you depart. You can also take a "service" taxi or a bus, which have scheduled routes and can drop you off on the way. Ask the locals about the routes, because a) there are no regular departure time tables, and b) buses and taxi cabs wait up to take enough passengers in before taking off.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
ADJ · Marka International (Amman Civil) Airport
HFA · Uri Michaeli Haifa International Airport
AMM · Queen Alia International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Irbid
Eat
Try Al-Manqal, on University street, which serves decent grills and the usual Middle Eastern fare. You can also try Arabella and Al-Saadi. All of these serve the usual Middle Eastern grills, rice, hummus, and tabbulah. They're relatively cheap, especially for western visitors. You will find all kinds of Arabic food to enjoy. If you want to eat like the locals, buy felafel sandwiches or hummus from one of the numerous small delicatessen shops. There are also many shawarma restaurants. All of these are very cheap: Shawarma sandwich: 60 piasters; felafel sandwich: 20 piasters; hummus dish to go: 40 piasters. Finally, McDonald's is close to University Street Roundabout and Yarmouk University.
Drink
There are no pubs or bars in Irbid. You can, however, find numerous liquor stores in downtown Irbid. These are mainly Christian-run enterprises, open to everyone, and they sell both domestic and international alcohol and beer, at reasonable prices (although you should always ask about prices before buying).
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Irbid: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Irbid?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Irbid are March, April and November. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 35 °C; January is the wettest, with about 106 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Irbid?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Marka International (Amman Civil) Airport (ADJ), about 66 km from the city centre in a straight line; Uri Michaeli Haifa International Airport (HFA, 81 km) and Queen Alia International Airport (AMM, 94 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Irbid?
Jordanian dinar (JOD).
Nearby
Destinations near Irbid
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.